A pistachio boom in California has brought significant growth for the industry, with nearly $3 billion generated last year. The crop’s popularity has led to a surge in demand, mainly from China, where pistachios are a treat during Lunar New Year. American Pistachio Growers, which represents over 800 farmers, reports an explosion of plantings over the past decade.
The United States has become the world’s top exporter of pistachios, surpassing Iran. The crop is drought-tolerant and can produce nuts for decades longer than almonds. California grows over a third of the country’s vegetables and three quarters of its fruit and nuts. Pistachio growers aim to avoid a similar fate as almond farmers, who struggled with prices falling amid a glut of supply.
Industry experts say pistachios are an increasingly attractive crop due to their water efficiency and potential for higher returns. The Wonderful Co., a $6 billion agricultural company, grows between 15% and 20% of the U.S. pistachio crop. With its rootstock yielding up to 40% more nuts per acre, the company’s pistachio orchards are expanding.
Pistachios require less water than almonds and fetch a higher price per acre. This has led to an increase in demand for the nut, mainly from China, which is helping to sustain California farmers’ growth. As a result, pistachio growers expect to continue growing their acreage over the next few years.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/california-pistachio-boom-farming-water-china-agriculture-c975a6f2bd9d638d58af136621bb5da2